WOAH! 29 reviews! :O

Haha ThankYou SO much :) they made Rose smileyyy :P

Sorry this took a while, I didn't really know how to follow the last one :P And besides I wanted to create suspense ;)

Anyway here's Chapter 24!

"Nate, what's going on?!" Caitlyn called from Mitchie's bedroom window. Though she supposed she should call it her bedroom window now. Nate looked up and waved, giving her a sad smile before motioning for her to come outside.

Looking over at Mitchie who was blasting music out of her Ipod headphones, her attempts at drowning out Caitlyn or Nate's worried and sympathetic questions. Caitlyn nodded to Nate then pulled on her shoes quickly before exiting the house.

"So what's going on?" She asked again watching Jason load about 10 boxes into the back of his car. "Jason's moving out," Nate sighed looking down. Caitlyn bit her lip, she didn't like to see him so aggravated and upset, though she supposed they all had since Shane had moved out 2 weeks ago.

Caitlyn moved closer to him, "Where?" she asked softly, reaching out to take hold of his free hand, the other was clutching his phone tightly. "To Shane's, I know-" he added seeing the startled look on Caitlyn's face. "I know it's weird, but Jason and I have been discussing it... Shane's doing... he's really bad Caitlyn and since he hates me, Jason was the only option. We need someone to look after him."

Caitlyn snorted, "he doesn't deserve someone looking out for him, I'm glad he's doing bad!" She said fiercely glancing up at Mitchie's window. He'd hurt her best friend so badly, he didn't deserve anything. Nate frowned shaking his head, feeling the need to protect his brother. "No, Caitlyn you don't understand, he feels like he has no one! He's always been paranoid about girls cheating on him since... and he really loved Mitchie, with everything going on with my parents, I guess he just thought he'd lost everything."

"He has lost everything," Caitlyn replied harshly, still not accepting that Shane was partially innocent, it was his actions that caused her friends heart to break. Again Nate shook his head, pulling away from her slightly.

"No he's got me, whether he likes it or not. I love him, he's my brother Caitlyn, can't you understand?" He looked at her pleadingly as she rolled her eyes, but seeing the sadness lurking in the shadows of his expression she sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just... Mitchie's not coping too well either. She didn't even want to know what happened between Shane and your parents... she's like my sister, I guess you got to look out for your family, no matter who or what they did huh?"

Nate smiled and nodded, "exactly," he moved closer, his hands wrapping around her waist, resting lightly on her back as he pulled her into him. "It's such a mess," he whispered burying his face in her curly hair. "It'll get better," she replied, looking back up at Mitchie's window where the curtain was quivering.

"Hey-" Caitlyn said pulling back, "mind if I... um come with you guys? I'd like to see Shane..." she bit her lip not sure Nate would allow it, he looked hesitant as it was. "Caitlyn, he really can't deal with..."

"I won't say anything, I promise." she interrupted then gave him her famous Geller puppy eyes. "Oh not the eyes," he whined shielding his own, she grinned and stood on her tip-toes to kiss him quickly. "Thank you."

"Shane? Can you come help me?!" Jason yelled out as he unlocked the new apartment. No answer came so he turned to Caitlyn, his eyes begging. Laughing softly she took one of the boxes that was slipping from his grasp and stepped inside.

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around. To her shock it was empty, literally nothing was there. No furniture; no bed, chairs, tables, even lights were missing. The floor was plain wood, hard and uncomfortable, the walls a pastel blue, expanding the room and making it look an even bigger and empty space.

Nate nudged her forwards and pointed to the small room to the left, edging inside nervously Caitlyn bit her lip. There was Shane. Laying on the floor in a dirty old sleeping bag, his hands covering his face which was slightly stubbled from where he obviously hadn't shaved.

His clothes were worn and as soon as she stepped nearer she could already smell him. Her breath hitching she froze as he slowly looked up at her, his eyes swollen and blood shot. He opened his mouth to talk but no words came out, instead to Caitlyn's complete shock his big brown eyes welled up with tears.

"Shane..." she said quietly kneeling down beside him, nodding to Nate who gave her a stern look. Shane's eyes followed hers and once they were set upon Nate he scowled. "Watch out Caitlyn," he hissed before turning on his side to face the wall. Biting her lip Caitlyn reached out to him and gently squeezed his shoulder, he flinched but didn't pull away.

Looking down Caitlyn slowly got up and left the room. Waiting until Nate was done putting a new chair in the corner of the room, she leaned against the wall. "I tried to tell you," he said stepping over to her. "Yes you did, and I didn't listen I'm sorry," she nodded hugging him tightly again. She just couldn't believe the state of which Shane had gotten himself into, never would she have imagined he'd been living like this for over 2 weeks.

"God I'm really worried about him," Nate admitted to Caitlyn looking scared out of his mind, wondering what he'd supposed Shane would do she shivered. "Maybe we should get Mitchie to come round," she suggested quietly to which he looked at her weirdly, "what?" she questioned subconsciously wiping her face. He smiled at her actions then shrugged, "I don't know, I just never would have thought you'd suggest that."

Caitlyn shrugged, "I never would have thought it necessary until now," Caitlyn replied resting her head against his shoulder. "I'll talk to her about it," Nate finally decided then turned to Jason. "Come on, we better get this placed up to living standards. I need to call the water... guys.. get the water working," he said looking confused, "I'll do that-" Caitlyn laughed at his expression, "you lift the heavy stuff," she grinned before taking his phone that he held out.

"Hey Caitlyn?"

"Yeah Nate?" Caitlyn turned back only to feel Nates lips pressed against hers in a soft kiss. "Really, thank you."

Mitchie rolled over in bed hearing the knock on her door. Her heart already jumping to conclusions, hoping it was Shane come to apologize and take her back in his arms. Did she even want to be in his arms anymore? She thought she had, but with every second, minute, hour and day that past by she slowly lost that need for him. Instead anger took its place.

How could he do that too her?!

Why had he done that to her? She'd stopped Caitlyn from explaining, not wanting to know why Shane had broke her heart. Though now she deeply regretted that decision as she wanted to know.

"Can I come in?" Mitchie sighed and slowly got out of bed, not bothering to check with her appearance, she hadn't bothered in 2 weeks. Opening the door Mitchie turned her back on Nate, leaving him to enter and close the door behind him.

Nate, in doing the same thing every time he saw Mitchie brought her into a tight hug. "You any better?" The same question was also repeated every time. To which Mitchie would always shrug and pull away, not wanting to discuss. Today however, to Nate's surprise Mitchie buried her head deeper into his chest and shook her head.

"I feel horrible Nate, I just hurt so much." She whispered not looking up at him. He lead her over to the bed and sat her down, "do you want to know now?" Nate asked, he'd wanted to tell Mitchie what had happened that night and the day Shane snapped.

Mutely, Mitchie nodded her head, tears cascading down her cheeks. She hoped it was a good excuse, for Shane's sake.

"Well," Nate started, pausing he sighed, "it's a little confusing, I was in the background but I saw/heard most of it." He looked back at Mitchie as if for the 'go ahead' then laid down on his back as he began to retell the story.

"After the show... well during I suppose, Shane had stormed off the set because of that photo. Which by the way was like 2 years old. Jason and I tried to continue with the show but... there was shouting and swearing, I looked behind the camera and saw my Dad and Shane fighting. Deciding to cut the interview short we got off the set and all went outside. I walked off a little bit, I hate it when they fight..." Nate stopped talking, a confused expression set on his face.

"Then... Then," he began not noticing how these pauses were killing Mitchie, she just needed to know what had happened so bad.

"Oh then Shane was asking how they'd got the photo... Dad, it was Dad. He thought that Connect 3 were loosing publicity now that Shane was no longer the 'bad boy' of the press, and so he wanted to cause friction, wanted Shane to react on TV. So knowing that you were important to him, he tried to jeopardize it, when he told Shane... he just snapped. Started shouting and, I don't know I think he must've said something bad cos the next thing I know, Shane's on the ground and my Dads fist is in the air."

Mitchie's eyes were brimming as she imagined the scene happening, she felt so sorry for Shane. Remembering his swollen eye she chewed her lip, "and then?"

"And then I stepped in, pulled Dad away and Jason and I drove Shane home. On the way he asked for my phone because his had died, and he wanted to call you... he saw the text," Nate said the last bit softly looking at Mitchie who nodded, wiping the tears away from her cheeks.

"I just wanted to ask you about that girl... and others..." Mitchie interjected laying down beside Nate, resting her cheek against his arm. Nate nodded putting his around her.

"I guessed, but Shane... he kept quiet about it until we got home, Mom and Dad weren't back yet... he started shouting, screaming again. Accused me of cheating with you, said I was no longer his brother... punched me-"

Mitchie gasped cutting him off, "what where?!" Nate grimaced and lifted up his top, over the weeks it had healed but there was still a dark shadow on his stomach. She traced it with her fingers and shook her head, "I'm sorry Nate, this is my fault.. I shouldn't have text you..."

"No this is still Shane, he did this. Not you." Nate hissed pulling his top back down, obviously this part of the story was a sore point for him. "Anyway we argued for... hours and finally my Dad got home, they'd obviously been out cos he was drunk, he hit Shane again. Told him to go to his room, locked him in there. They argued through the door for most of the night..."

"I know its no excuse Mitchie, but he just-thought he'd lost everything, you and me. Our parents, and I know I have no right to ask you this but I need your help."

Mitchie looked up at him and nodded, she saw the desperation on his face, the scared look hiding behind his calm composure. She'd do anything to help him...

"I need you to see Shane."

... Except that.

"What?!" Mitchie shrieked standing up, she began pacing the room and shaking her head. "I can't believe you'd ask me to do that Nate! You know how hurt I am!" Mitchie cried walking over to her door she opened it and pointed, "get out!"

"Mitchie!" Nate pleaded desperately reaching out and grasping her hand, "you don't understand, he's broken Mitchie! I've never seen him this bad! I'm so worried, Jason even moved in with him, we're afraid of what he's going to do!"

That made Mitchie stop in her tracks. "Wh-what do you mean? What's he going to do?" Mitchie whispered, suddenly forgetting her anger. Nate sighed and pulled her back into the room. "I don't know Mitch, I told him to go to the doctors and get help and he told me to go the a vets and get put down..." Nate laughed gingerly at his own brothers cruelness ignoring the hesitant look on Mitchie's face he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Please just think about it, if not for him... at least for me. I can't lose my brother, he's my best friend..." Nate whispered and Mitchie could hear the catch in his voice, he was nearly crying. "I'll think about it." She promised nodding her head, then shut the door behind him and collapsed on her bed.

Mitchie awoke some time later to the gentle strumming of her guitar. "Shane?" She murmured groggily, again her heart already pounding in hope. She heard a sigh then caught sight of her Mom sitting on her desk chair. "Honey-" she sighed setting down her guitar and sitting on her bed.

"Nate wants me to go see him," Mitchie interrupted her, needing to get some advice. Her Mom sighed again and stroked the hair out of her face. "Honey, I know it's been hard for you but Shane is a good boy, I've seen it in him, and I know you have too. I don't know exactly what happened but... I think you know as well as I do, he wasn't himself and maybe he just needs help."

That wasn't the answer Mitchie was expecting. She expected her Mom to tell her to stay away from that horrible boy, get on with her life and concentrate on her studies. Not to defend the person that had broke her heart, and tell her to see him.

"I don't know," Mitchie admitted sitting up, "I don't want to get hurt again Mom," she said quietly rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Then don't let yourself get in to deep," then seeing the confusion on Mitchie's face she added, "just help him, but don't get too close."

Mitchie nodded and thanked her Mom, saying she would sleep on it. However that plan was shot out of the window as she couldn't close her eyes without picturing his face. She almost couldn't believe what Nate had said, she'd imagined stupidly all this time that he was sitting around with loads of girls, partying and forgetting all about the shy NJ girl.

Sighing and fighting back tears Mitchie picked up her phone, she chewed her lip as the ring tone dialed then took a deep breath as it was answered.

"Hello?"

"Take me round his please."

There was a long pause, "you sure? Now?"

"Yeah I'm sure, I just want to get this sorted. Move on."

"I'll be there in... I'm here."

Mitchie couldn't help but giggle softly as the door bell rang. Shaking her head she hung up on Nate and went to answer the door. Not bothering to change out of her pajamas.

"You hung up on me!" Nate pouted as she answered the door, then turned serious. "Shall we go?"

Mitchie nodded silently and grabbed her coat. "Let's go see Shane."

Ooo0o Centre Page A/N!

What? I wanted to do summet different :P

Not much exciting stuff happening to me lately,

Xmas break is nearly over, so school time :/

BUT my moms xmas present to me was to get my hair done =]

So i had long black extensions put in, with blue :P

So that's my exciting news haha

Hope you guys had a good break anyway!

And a good new years partaaaay haha

Thank you for reading

and please Review.

- M x

(I really like writing in the centre :)